Chapter 8:

Humiliating the Danish

En Passant Grandmaster Volume 6

With Japan now leading Denmark 1.5-0.5, the commentators had quickly taken notice of the match and focused in on Okisato's game.

"So let me get this straight, he responded to a Sicilian with a King David's, and now he's winning!? This is insane!" Danny cried.

"It truly is a spectacle. Aside from that king e2 play, Okisato Tanabe is playing perfectly," Nancy replied.

"Speaking of perfect, the last move, king f8, was Jern's best move. But if Okisato finds knight d6, Jern's in for a world of hurt. Denmark too as they'll lose the match on the spot."

Indeed Jern was in for a world of hurt, as Okisato effortlessly found knight d6, even more so after he worsened his position by moving his bishop to d7. Now Okisato could move his bishop to b3, forcing Jern's queen to g4. Okisato promptly captured the queen at g4 with his queen, and even though Jern captured his queen with his knight, it mattered not as Okisato could play the crushing knight capture f7.

"Damn bastard! He wants to trade, I'll trade! We'll go to an endgame brawl!" Jern thought as he captured the bishop at e3 with his knight.

"Guess he never learned not to trade when you're losing," Okisato thought as he captured the knight at e3 with his f-pawn.

Jern glared in frustration and moved his rook to g8 while Okisato tightened the screws and moved his rook to d1. Jern tried to create counter-play by moving his bishop to e8, but Okisato simply moved his knight to d6. Rather than capture the knight, Jern opted instead to move his bishop to h5, threatening the rook.

"Oh no, my rook... Oh wait, I got a knight," Okisato thought as he moved hos knight to e2.

Jern ruffled his hair in frustration and moved his rook to h8, causing Okisato to stare in confusion.

"Wow, you really are lost. Check," he shrugged as he moved his rook to f1.

"I ain't lost, I'm frying my brain, dammit!" Jern fumed as he moved his bishop to f7.

As soon as his hand was off the piece, a maniacal grin formed on Okisato's face.

"Whoa, whoa! You seeing this Nancy!?" Danny cried.

"I am, and I think he sees it too. It's mate in two!"

Okisato indeed saw it and wasted no time in capturing the bishop at f7 with his rook.

"Idiot, I just capture- ...!"

Jern went pale as he realized there was only one legal move he could make, king g8.

"Well whatever," he scoffed as he made his move, unaware that his doom was eminent.

"I bet it's going to haunt you knowing you can't capture this rook."

"Huh? The hell are you-"

"Checkmate, you lose," Okisato snickered as he moved his rook to f6, putting it directly in line of the pawn and bishop. But since his bishop had the king in it's sights and Jern couldn't do a thing, it was checkmate and Okisato had won the game.

Jern's mouth hung down in disbelief as he began to tremble. "Fu- Fucking bastard. That's just too damn evil!" he fumed as he got up and stormed away.

"Oi, you didn't shake hands," Miga grumbled as she took off after him.

As for board 3, knight e2, knight f6, h4, bishop c5, h5, knight g4, and finally rook h4, had all been played out before Sommer had decided to get up for a stroll. Ryonosuke had long since taken the liberty of capturing the rook at h4 with his queen, leading to Sommer's clock continuing to tick down until he finally returned, just as Jern had lost.

"Kahkahkah! Dumbass Jern lost. Now it's all on me to win!" Sommer gleefully thought as he moved his king to f1.

"Oh, I see. Checkmate," Ryonosuke growled as he captured the pawn at f2 with his queen, winning the game.

Sommer's mouth dropped in horror as he gasped in shock. And with that, Japan had officially beaten Denmark 3.5-0.5. The men's team was off to a great start, but this was only round 1 of the tournament.

The full games:

White: Okisato Tanabe (2700) Black: Jern Ræv (2207)

1. e4 c5

2. Ke2 d5

3. d3 Nc6

4. exd5 Nd4+

5. Ke1 Qxd5

6. Nc3 Qe6+

7. Nce2 b5

8. c3 Nc6

9. Be3 Qf5

10. d4 Nf6